In order to meet a growing demand for residential broadband services, DIRECTV Broadband today announced an agreement with Qwest Communications International Inc. in which Qwest will provide wholesale DSL connectivity to DIRECTV DSL customers.
The company has been aggressively promoting its DSL service nationwide. Just several weeks before today’s announcement of an agreement with Qwest the company launched its first national television commercial for its DSL services.
“Our wholesale agreement with Qwest … is an important partnership to further deploy our unique residential broadband services throughout the nation,” said Ned Hayes, president and CEO of DIRECTV Broadband. “This new partnership underscores our priority of having the most flexible service for our customers. As we continue to partner with leading last-mile carriers and expand our nationwide footprint, we remain poised to meet the demand for residential broadband services.”
Qwest Communications is the latest last-mile carrier to provide DSL services to DIRECTV Broadband. The company already has successful agreements with SNC Communications, Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell Telephone, Bell South and Verizon Communications.
According to Adam Guglielmo, a DSL analyst with TeleChoice, Inc., as broadband services continue to grow and mature, it is important to establish strong relationships with the Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers. “DIRECTV Broadband has employed the smart strategy of working with a variety of last-mile carriers to ensure a stable and reliable DSL service offering.”
In the fourth quarter of this year, DIRECTV Broadband will begin taking orders for DSL service through the Qwest network in Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, Portland, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City.
“Consumer demand for high-speed, always-on Internet access and services continues to skyrocket, but customers want to receive their service just as soon as possible,” Hayes said. The partnership with Qwest will enable the company to meet the immediate demand for DSL service in some of its key markets.